(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Inspire Brands, the owner of Arby’s and other fast-food restaurant chains, announced plans Wednesday to add Jimmy John’s to its mix.
Jimmy John’s is the Champaign, Illinois-based sandwich shop chain founded by Jimmy John Liautaud. The first restaurant opened in 1983 in Charleston, Illinois; now, there are 2,800 locations in 43 states.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the company we’ve built, and I can’t wait to see what Jimmy John’s is able to accomplish under Inspire’s leadership,” Liautaud, who is expected to remain as a brand advisor, said in a news release.
Pictures of Liautaud posing with dead big-game animals have surfaced on the Internet and caused controversy and calls for boycotts against Jimmy John’s. In a 2015 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Liautaud said he no longer hunts big game.